Town Park Makeover

A draft Town Park Master Plan Revision was presented to the Town Council at its worksession of February 28, 2013. It is envisioned that the presentation will be followed by a resolution to adopt a revision to the current park master plan which will go through three readings and the usual three-month period of discussion.

A Town Park restoration is among the recommendations of the Cheverly Green Infrastructure Plan as adopted by the town.

The design process derived from a Cheverly Green Infrastructure Committee proposal submitted to the Town of Cheverly for the 2013 budget year.

The proposal envisioned generating “ideas and plans for a makeover that showcases best practices for natural landscaping to reduce stormwater runoff and increase the diversity of birds and butterflies while meeting other needs of the community.

An assessment of the site including the source of stormwater runoff and poor drainage areas should be conducted and alternatives developed and reviewed with ample public input. A comprehensive stormwater plan should be included for existing hard surface areas including the upper and lower parking lots, street to the lower parking area, and tennis and basketball sites.

Preferred concepts to include: restoring and expanding the number of native plants, adding raingardens, pervious pavement, site-friendly paths among the trees to make it easier to avoid mud and have less compaction of natural areas, demonstration and education areas featuring native trees and plants, a limited set of trails to better connect existing activity areas while resulting in more nature in the park.”

Subsequently Dan Smith on behalf of the Cheverly Green Infrastructure Committee arranged with the Neighborhood Design Center to examine the site, meet with Cheverly residents, and produce a design plan that could be presented to the Town Council.

“The project would review current and future uses of Town Park, inventory natural and built resources in the area from the Community Center to the Public Works building, and develop new designs which the town can adopt as a guide for upgrades and improvements to the park.”

A series of meetings led to the current design.

May 2, 2012. Public meeting with a presentation by the Neighborhood Design Center and public input. The meeting was publicized by, for example, a Mayor’s FYI in the April 2012 Newsletter:

“Does Town Park Need a Facelift? Please come by Town Hall on Wednesday, May 2nd at 7 pm to participate in a design makeover for Town Park. The wooded area surrounding the Tennis Courts has suffered from erosion and the decline of plants and trees. Dan Smith and Sheila Salo of the Green Infrastructure Committee contacted the Neighborhood Design Center who will lead the redesign effort. While it may take many years to implement the design, it will be great to have blueprint for moving forward. Come share your interests and ideas with the designers as they work to understand what makes Town Park special and valuable to our community.”

This meeting was followed by at least two months of public input through questionnaires distributed at the Cheverly Community Market and the Cheverly Green Infrastructure Plan web site.

July 21, 2012. Professional charrette and onsite visit at which landscape designers sketched design suggestions.

November 27, 2012. Project group meeting, including Neighborhood Design Center, an ADA specialist from PG Parks, and Cheverly residents. The latter included members of the Cheverly Green Infrastructure Committee, and Cheverly Planning Board.

January 14, 2013. Project group meeting, including Neighborhood Design Center, an ADA specialist from PG Parks, and Cheverly residents. The latter included members of the Cheverly Green Infrastructure Committee, Cheverly Planning Board, and Cheverly Parent Resource Center.